Assessment - GCSE Chemistry
Assessment Objectives
Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual and are the same across all GCSE Chemistry specifications and all exam boards.
The exams will measure how students have achieved the following assessment objectives.
AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- scientific ideas
- scientific techniques and procedures
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding of:
- scientific ideas
- scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures
AO3: Analyse information and ideas to:
- interpret and evaluate
- make judgments and draw conclusions
- develop and improve experimental procedures
5.2.1 Assessment objective weightings for GCSE Chemistry
| Assessment objectives (AOs) | Component weightings (approx %) | Overall weighting (approx %) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Paper 2 | ||
| AO1 | 37–43 | 37–43 | 40 |
| AO2 | 37–43 | 37–43 | 40 |
| AO3 | 17–23 | 17–23 | 20 |
| Overall weighting of components | 50 | 50 | 100 |
5.3 Assessment weightings
The marks awarded on the papers will be scaled to meet the weighting of the components. Students' final marks will be calculated by adding together the scaled marks for each component.
Grade boundaries will be set using this total scaled mark. The scaling and total scaled marks are shown in the table below.
| Component | Maximum raw mark | Scaling factor | Maximum scaled mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 100 | x1 | 100 |
| Paper 2 | 100 | x1 | 100 |
| Total scaled mark: | 200 |